The past week has seen the main event of the world series of poker being played at the Rio in Las Vegas. It started with a record field of 6,865 hopefuls who payed $US10,000 for the opportunity of being crowned “world Champion”. Of course there is also the lure of a 1st prize of $8.7M.
The field has played down to the final 9 players who will return in November, a concept that only started 2 years ago. The final field is known everywhere as “the November 9”. Life changing money is at stake here where the first 8 players will each walk away with $1M+.
Soccer is known as the “world game” but surely if you regard poker as a sport then it must rank 2nd behind soccer. The November 9 is representative of the US, Ireland, England, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belize (by way of Lebanon) and Germany.
So, who should us confirmed punt drunks bet on? Well, this year it is a little easier than in past years. “Why”, you ask? Well, ESPN for the 1st time had continual live coverage of the event. The Sydney Colt either watched it all live or taped it during work hours and caught up later. Hence, the form is well exposed. Not since 2003 has the chip leaders been such well known professionals. They are in form and have the chip stacks to force the pace or to back up any misreads. Courtesy of Betchoice below is the current market for the November 9 with their chip stacks in brackets.
| 4.50 | Martin Staszko (40,175,000) |
| 5.00 | Eoghan O’Dea (33,925,000) |
| 6.00 | Ben Lamb (20,875,000) |
| 6.50 | Matt Giannetti (24,750,000) |
| 6.50 | Phil Collins (23,875,000) |
| 9.00 | Badih Bounahra (19,700,000) |
| 10.00 | Pius Heinz (16,425,000) |
| 12.00 | Anton Makievskyi (13,825,000) |
| 17.00 | Sam Holden (12,375,000) |
I am backing both the Czech, Martin Staszko and the popular Irishman, Eoghan O’Dea whose father was once the leading European player. I will have 60% of my stake on Staszko and 40% on O’Dea. I am gambling against the American Ben Lamb who continues to firm in the betting. Lamb is the only player amongst the November 9 who has won a bracelet at this years world series. To my eye he attempts to force the pace too often and he hardly has enough chips to combat a bad read. At $6.0 he is under the odds needed. For keen poker followers you will also appreciate that Staszko has “position” on him ie Lamb is to the right of Staszko. Position in poker is vital.
God bless ESPN and God give strength to Messrs Staszko and O’Dea.